DOES "APESHIT" EQUAL "SNAKEBITTEN"?

Likely you will not find any of the great philosphers, past or present, ever debating this question. That's O.K. especially as I have no pretensions of ever being or having been any such thing. The first term is one that I have occasionally used to describe unusual behaviour from Uniroyal/Crompton/Chemtura/CRA. The second is one that Dr. Sebastian Seibel-Achenbach has used a number of times to describe Lanxess/GHD's response to any comments or questions surrounding soil testing in and around the Stroh Drain. Note carefully that I believe that neither Sebastian nor I attribute either "apeshit" behaviour or "snakebitten" behaviour to these companies personnel on a regular or ongoing basis. In fact the vast majority of the time those personnel are definitely projecting informed, knowledgable, professional behaviour. That is why both myself and Sebastian have been so surprised when they've behaved so loudly, defensively, and so bluntly on a single issue. ................................................................................................................ The single issue years ago (2004-2007) at CPAC meetings was when I would ask whether or not DDT and dioxins were actually DNAPL chemicals. My recollection is that it was both Dwighte Este and Jeff Merriman of Uniroyal/Crompton/Chemtura who overeacted so badly to what I felt at the time was a fairly innocuous question. Well! The defensiveness and hostility/aggression were palpable. Hence my thoughts that they went "apeshit". In no uncertain terms I was told that Dense Non Aqueous Phase Liquids (DNAPLS) included many heavier than water (i.e. density >1) chemicals but that other characteristics defined them and that dioxins/DDT were an entirely different cup of tea. Much more toxic and much more of a problem not to be mixed in with DNAPL discussions. Well again! ........................................................................................................... For Sebastian the term "snakebitten" has been used by him to describe Lanxess/GHD reaction to any suggestion whatsoever that soils need to be tested for dioxins/furans, DDT and more in and around the north end of the Stroh Drain. In particular Ramin Ansari of Lanxess has been trying desperately to slam that door shut. His obstinance and lack of reasonable rationale has been blatant. The fact that he seems to have support from the Ontario Ministry of Environment gives informed citizens exactly zero confidence. The Ontario MOE/MECP have been badly compromised on this file literally since the early 1980s. Some of the comments and arguments both from Ramin and Lou Almeida have exceeded the ridiculous. Arguments such as pouring a pail of water on the ground to then watch where it flows are absurd. Refusals to examine their own (CRA/MOE/Region of Waterloo) topographical maps to prove that overflowing toxic wastes gravity flowed from Uniroyal Chemical southwards and through the former swamp, south-east across the "Gap" area and onto the Stroh property are blatantly self-serving. ..................................................................................................... Dioxins and DDT, just like DNAPLS, are mobile. Probably far more mobile as they can be transported via wind, not just in soil, ground and surface water. Are these two separate issues or are the similar tantrum like behaviours indicative of a single, huge problem that for self-serving reasons ($$$$ and reputation) they do not want to address?